Darien football beats Trinity Catholic on last-second Hail Mary

Updated 1:52 pm, Thursday, November 15, 2012

Darien's Nicholas Lombardo makes a catch and dives into the end zone for a tie-breaking touchdown during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Nicholas Lombardo makes a catch and dives into the end zone for a tie-breaking touchdown during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Nicholas Lombardo makes a catch and dives into the end zone for a tie-breaking touchdown during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Nicholas Lombardo makes a catch and dives into the end zone for a tie-breaking touchdown during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Peter Gesualdi intercepts a ball intended for Trinity Catholic's Connor Amann during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Peter Gesualdi intercepts a ball intended for Trinity Catholic's Connor Amann during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Robert Tusch recovers his own team's kickoff during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Robert Tusch recovers his own team's kickoff during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien players react after they won Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien players react after they won Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien players and coaches react after scoring a touchdown to break the tie during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien players and coaches react after scoring a touchdown to break the tie during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Neno Merritt and Darien's Brian Wiegand reach for a ball that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Neno Merritt and Darien's Brian Wiegand reach for a ball that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Danny O'Leary throws a pass during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Danny O'Leary throws a pass during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Nicholas Lombardo reaches for a pass that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Nicholas Lombardo reaches for a pass that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Nicholas Lombardo reaches for a pass that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Nicholas Lombardo reaches for a pass that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Peter Gesualdi can't hold on to a near-interception during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Peter Gesualdi can't hold on to a near-interception during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Kyle Gifford reaches for a pass that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Kyle Gifford reaches for a pass that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Jackson Whiting makes a catch during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Jackson Whiting makes a catch during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Shaquan Howsie carries the ball during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Shaquan Howsie carries the ball during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Danny O'Leary throws a pass during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Danny O'Leary throws a pass during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Peter Gesualdi makes a catch during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Peter Gesualdi makes a catch during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Peter Gesualdi carries the ball during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Peter Gesualdi carries the ball during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Danny O'Leary carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Danny O'Leary carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Connor Amann and Darien's Peter Gesualdi reach for a ball that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Connor Amann and Darien's Peter Gesualdi reach for a ball that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Danny O'Leary throws a pass during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Danny O'Leary throws a pass during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Neno Merritt and Darien's Brian Wiegand reach for a ball that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Neno Merritt and Darien's Brian Wiegand reach for a ball that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Shawn Brown reacts after dropping a pass during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Shawn Brown reacts after dropping a pass during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Cody Zaro makes a catch during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Cody Zaro makes a catch during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Nicholas Lombardo carries the ball during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Nicholas Lombardo carries the ball during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Nicholas Lombardo carries the ball during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Nicholas Lombardo carries the ball during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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A pass intended for Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia falls incomplete during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

A pass intended for Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia falls incomplete during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Shaquan Howsie carries the ball during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Shaquan Howsie carries the ball during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Neno Merritt catches and runs with an interception during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Neno Merritt catches and runs with an interception during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Peter Gesualdi jumps for a pass that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Peter Gesualdi jumps for a pass that fell incomplete during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Shaquan Howsie scores a touchdown during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Shaquan Howsie scores a touchdown during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia carries the ball during Saturday's football game against Darien at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

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Darien's Henry Baldwin throws a pass during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Darien's Henry Baldwin throws a pass during Saturday's football game at Trinity Catholic High School on November 10, 2012.

Photo: Lindsay Niegelberg

Darien football beats Trinity Catholic on last-second Hail Mary

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STAMFORD -- The Trinity Catholic and Darien football teams entered Saturday afternoon's critical FCIAC showdown in a circumstance of role reversal, cast in different parts from what was expected before the season started.

And it was that adaptation that led Blue Wave coach Rob Trifone to a decision he likely would not have otherwise made, one that produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the year and had a domino effect on the league playoff picture.

Nick Lombardo out-leaped two Trinity defenders and came down with a 35-yard pass from Henry Baldwin with seven seconds remaining, lifting the Blue Wave to a 26-20 win at Alumni Field.

The victory was the first step in Darien salvaging a season that had veered off track, while dealing a blow to the Crusaders, who came in with the chance to play Thursday night for a shot at sharing the FCIAC championship.

"I had a wheel route and I looked back and saw the ball in the air and tried to make a play on it," Lombardo said. "I knew I had to get the ball, that it was mine, and I took it."

Darien, considered a preseason contender, came into the day 4-3 and looking to play the role of spoiler, a position the Crusaders have found themselves in during recent seasons.

What began as a defensive struggle turned into a frenetic climax, starting with a rare mistake by Peter Gesualdi, whose absence to injury for much of the first half of the season was a reason for Darien's slow start, and whose versatile overall efforts set up the final heroics.

Gesualdi muffed a punt that was recovered by Trinity on the Blue Wave's 28 with 1:03 remaining. But on 4th down, looking to set up John Benalcazar for a game-winning field goal attempt, Darien's Mark Evanchick sacked Danny O'Leary for a 10-yard loss at the Crusaders' 33 with 26 seconds left.

"That's our freshman," Trifone said of Evanchick. "He has played spottily because he's a freshman. I actually hugged his dad at the end of the game."

Tom O'Neil, the Blue Wave's offensive coordinator, suggested to Trifone that the team take a knee and go to overtime, a strategy he likely would have been amenable to if the season had played out as hoped.

"I said no, let's take a shot down the field and let's try and get in field goal range," Trifone said.

A 32-yard pass to Gesuladi, wide open on the right side, set up Baldwin and Lombardo to share the spotlight.

"Nick Lombardo made a tremendous play," Trifone said. "He was triple covered. I don't how he did it, I'll have to watch the film. In some respects, if we were 7-0 I might have taken a knee there and go into overtime. If you are 4-3 and had a tough year as it is, take a shot."

Trinity (7-1), which held a 7-6 halftime advantage, twice gave up leads in the second half. It retook one at 13-12 on the final play of the third quarter, Danny O'Leary's 63-yard pass to Neno Merritt.

After Baldwin's pass to James Bennett and a two-point conversion put Darien up, 20-13, Shaquan Howsie's second touchdown tied the score at 20-20 with 3:43 left. Despite scoring twice, Howsie was held in check by the Blue Wave, rushing for just 38 yards on 20 carries.

Of the play that cost his team a chance at the FCIAC title, Crusaders coach Pete Stokes said, "I saw Shawn Crowell in good position and I saw Randy Polonia getting over the top. I saw we had more than they had and I saw their kid going into the end zone. I was upset we didn't get our chance but they sat on a screen."

The Crusaders still control their fate for a berth in the CIAC Class S Tournament. They finish the season with games against St. Joseph and Wilton.

"We have to come together," Stokes said. "I still think things are going to go our way. I don't think we got beat. They made a play. That was a good football game."